FRANCE: Paris – Château de Versailles – 1 day
The immense palace of the Château de Versailles was constructed in the 17th century with its ‘Le Nôtre’ signature gardens and is now classed as a World heritage UNESCO Site. It is one of the most beautiful achievements of 18th century French art. The site began as Louis XIII’s hunting lodge before his son Louis XIV transformed and expanded it, moving the court and government of France to Versailles in 1682. Each of the three French kings who lived there until the French Revolution added improvements to make it more beautiful
This remarkable château was home to one of the famous personalities of French history – Queen Marie-Antoinette, the Royal Residence of Louis XIV to Louis XVI, the seat of the government and became the most prestigious court in Europe during the reign of Louis XIV. In the 1670s Louis XIV built the Grand Apartments of the King and Queen, whose most emblematic achievement is the Hall of Mirrors designed by Mansart, where the king put on his most ostentatious display of royal power in order to impress visitors. The Chapel and Opera were built in the next century under Louis XV.
The Château lost its standing as the official seat of power in 1789 but acquired a new role in the 19th century as the Museum of the History of France, which was founded at the behest of Louis-Philippe, who ascended to the throne in 1830. That is when many of the château’s rooms were taken over to house the new collections, which were added to until the early 20th century, tracing milestones in French history.
Destinations: FRANCE: Paris – Château de Versailles – Paris
Tour Commences In: Paris
Tour Concludes In: Paris
Number of Days: 1 day
Tour Style: Luxury
Accommodation: NA
Meals: Lunches; 1:
Leaders: Professional private Specialist bilingual guide
Transportation: Luxury private chauffeur driven air-conditioned vehicles
Tour Grading: MODERATE: Suitable for travellers with an average level of fitness and mobility
Château de Versailles
Hall of Mirrors – ‘Galerie des Glaces’.
Salon d’Hercules’
Kings and Queens apartments (Grands Appartements)
Gardens
Grand Canal
Grand Trianon
Petit Trianon
Day 1: Paris – Château de Versailles – Paris: (L)
Transfer from your hotel at 8:30am by private luxury car or minibus for a 45 minute drive to Versailles. The palace opens at 09:00am - 5:30pm.
An escorted tour with a licensed guide of the reception rooms; ‘Salon d’Hercules’, the Kings and Queens apartments (Grands Appartements) built by Le Vau and decorated by Le Brun and the spectacular Hall of Mirrors – ‘Galerie des Glaces’. Free time to stroll through the beautiful gardens. If your visit falls on a musical garden or fountain display day, you will be able to assist to this magical event.
Lunch is at a restaurant inside the gardens of Versailles, near the Grand Canal used for Louis XIV boat parties.
After lunch, guided visit of the Grand Trianon (pink and white solid marble palace where Louis XIV escaped to with his mistress), Petit Trianon (Louis XV went there to retire from court life and create his botanical garden) and the hamlet of Marie-Antoinette.
Free time to stroll through the beautiful gardens. If your visit falls on a musical garden or fountain display day, you will be able to assist to this magical event.
Return to your hotel later this afternoon.
Gardens and Parks of the Château
From the central window of the Hall of mirrors the visitor looks down on the grand perspective that leads the gaze from the Water Parterre to the horizon. This original perspective, which preceded the reign of Louis XIV, was developed and prolonged by the gardener André Le Nôtre by widening the Royal Path and digging the Grand Canal. This vast perspective stretches from the façade of the Château de Versailles to the railings of the park.
In 1661, Louis XIV commissioned André Le Nôtre with the design and laying out of the gardens of Versailles which, in his view, were just as important as the Château. The works were undertaken at the same time as those for the palace and took forty years to complete. But André Le Nôtre did not work alone: Jean-Baptiste Colbert, Superintendent of the King’s Buildings, directed the project from 1664 to 1683; Charles Le Brun, appointed First Painter of the King in January 1664, produced the drawings for a large number of statues and fountains; and, a little later, the architect Jules Hardouin-Mansart drew up increasingly understated scenic plans and built the Orangerie. Lastly, the King had all the projects submitted to him and wanted the “details of everything.
The laying out of the gardens required enormous work. Vast amounts of earth had to be shifted to lay out the flower beds, the Orangerie, the fountains and the Canal, where previously only woods, grasslands and marshes were. The earth was transported in wheelbarrows, the trees were conveyed by cart from all the provinces of France and thousands of men, sometimes whole regiments, took part in this vast enterprise.
Since 1992, the gardens have been gradually replanted, and after the devastating storm of December 1999, the work speeded up to such an extent that quite a few sections have already been restored to their original appearance.
The Gardens Open every day, from 8.00 am to 6.00 pm. save exceptional weather (snow, violent winds...)
Pedestrian access via the Honour Gate or via the Park ( the Little Venice's gate, the Neptune's gate, the Menagerie 's gate) from 8.00am to 6.00pm and via the Dragon's gate every saturday, sunday and on French bank holidays from 1.00 pm to 6.00 pm.
Neptune Music Fountain Show – Tickets on request:
Set out on an exploration of the ornamental pools and groves and their water jets spouting to the rhythm of music. Several circuits are available to allow you to enjoy the numerous masterpieces of the gardens where you can wander through their most secret attractions.
Dates and opening times;
Saturdays and Sundays from March to October
The fountains spout commences from 11:00am to 12 noon and from 3:30 to 5:30pm.
Tuesdays from May to June
The fountains spout commences from 10:00am to 6:45pm every 15 mins
Musical Gardens – Tickets on request.
You can get the most from the gardens in summer when the groves and protected areas of the gardens are accessible on some Tuesdays from April to October for a musical stroll: an opportunity to discover the French formal gardens designed by Le Nôtre
Dates and opening times
All Tuesdays April to May (except when a Tuesday is the 1st May -Public Holiday) and from July to October.
Music from 10:00 am to 6:30 pm. Musical Fountains in the Bassin du Miroir every 10 minutes from 9:00 am to 6.30pm.
Château de VersaillesWebsite
Download the mobile app onto your phone. Discover the audio tours and the interactive map of the Estate.
Transfers in private luxury car / minibus as per itinerary
Professional bilingual specialist Guide
Lunch as per itinerary
International and or Domestic air fares
International flights / Train fares to and from France
Arrival / Departure Taxes, levies and other charges
Passport and visa fees
Excess baggage charges
Cost of any ‘luggage delivery’ via FedEx or postal service
Personal travel insurance
Porterage, tipping and gratuities
Meals not included
Alcoholic beverages
Personal expenses Anything not included in the itinerary